PARA DIVULGACIÓN INMEDIATA                                                          Contacto:
2 de octubre, 2013                                                                                    Feliza Ortiz-Licon
                                                                                                                (213) 787-9603; flicon@nclr.org
                                                                                                                Kathy Mimberg
                                                                                                                (202) 776-1714; kmimberg@nclr.org


Programa del Consejo Nacional de La Raza tiene como propósito capacitación y fortalecimiento de valores comunitarios

LOS ANGELES—Del 7 al 8 de octubre, el NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza por sus siglas en inglés), reunirá en Los Angeles a jóvenes latinos de varias ciudades a través del país incluyendo a Los Angeles, Oakland, Calif.; San Diego, Calif.; Houston, Tex.; Austin, Tex.; Lorain, Ohio; Chicago, Ill.; y Kansas City, Mo., para que participen en un foro intensivo de abogacía y liderazgo titulado: “National CASA Instutute: Fostering Leadership to Transform Latino Communities.”  Representando a 12 organizaciones comunitarias que pertenecen a la red de Afiliados del NCLR, los participantes explorarán temas como la identidad cultural, el desarrollo del liderazgo, abogacía, conciencia comunitaria y servicio a la comunidad en el Millenium Biltmore Hotel. 

Decenas de jóvenes participarán en actividades interactivas como el taller “LA Starts Here,” conducido en colaboración con La Plaza de Cultura y Artes .  El taller se enfoca en enseñarle a los estudiantes los eventos que ayudaron a formar a la cuidad de Los Angeles y como ese proceso impactó a la identidad latinoamericana. 

El evento de dos días es parte del programa del NCLR Cultura, Aprendizaje, Servicio, Acción (CASA) que fue establecido en el 2009 con el generoso apoyo de State Farm.  El proyecto CASA del NCLR es el único modelo de servicio-aprendizaje que reconoce la importancia de fundar las actividades de servicio y aprendizaje en las experiencias, cultura y valores de los estudiantes.  Este programa de un año de duración capacita a los jóvenes para que actúen como agentes del cambio y puedan abogar por los intereses propios y de sus comunidades y así lograr un sentido profundo de conciencia cultural y ejercerse como líderes confiados. 

Los participantes vienen de las siguientes organizaciones comunitarias:  Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, Monsignor Oscar Romero Charter School and Youth Policy Institute in Los Angeles, Calif.; Lighthouse Community Charter School in Oakland, Calif.; MAAC Community Charter School in Chula Vista, Calif.; Bert Corona Charter School in Pacoima, Calif.; Alta Vista Middle School in Kansas City, Mo.; Sanchez Charter Middle School and Sanchez Charter High School in Houston, Tex.; East Austin College Prep Academy in Austin, Tex.; Instituto del Progreso Latino in Chicago, Ill.; and El Centro de Servicios Sociales, Inc., in Lorain, Ohio.

AVISO A LA PRENSA

QUÉ:              “National CASA Institute: Fostering Leadership to Transform Latino Communities”   

QUIÉN:           Feliza Ortiz-Licon, Ed.D., Director of Education, California and Far West    Regions, NCLR
                        Doce organizaciones comunitarias de California, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio y Texas                   

CUÁNDO:       Lunes, 7 de octubre, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
                         Martes, 8 de octubre, 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
   
DÓNDE:           Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles
                         506 South Grand Avenue
                         Los Angeles, CA 90071

El NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza) es la organización nacional más grande de apoyo y defensa de los derechos civiles de los hispanos en los Estados Unidos y trabaja para mejorar sus oportunidades.  Para más información sobre el NCLR, por favor visite www.nclr.org o síganos en Facebook y Twitter.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
(202) 776-1566
jrendeiro@nclr.org

In his first public speech since taking office, Mel Watt, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), announced several new policies that will expand homeownership opportunities for hardworking Americans, which will ultimately help Latinos gain access to safe and affordable mortgage loans.

“We are pleased to see Mr. Watt taking the necessary steps to ensure that credit is available to first-time homebuyers, who will fuel growth in the housing market over the next decade,” said Eric Rodriguez, Vice President of the Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation at NCLR (National Council of La Raza). “Securing viable home loan options for Latinos, who will account for half of the new homebuyers by 2020, is critical to stabilizing our housing market. We applaud the FHFA for initiating these policies, which will help more Latinos and other underserved communities enter the housing market for the first time. NCLR looks forward to working with the agency to ensure that Latinos are able to achieve the American Dream of homeownership.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                    Contact:
May 15, 2014                                                                           Joseph Rendeiro
                                                                                                (202) 776-1566
                                                                                                jrendeiro@nclr.org

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs approved an amended version of the “Housing Finance Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act” (S. 1217), a bill aimed at overhauling the nation’s housing finance system. NCLR (National Council of La Raza) appreciates the efforts of members of the committee to address a clear and present need for housing finance reform, but the legislation, as written, will not sufficiently ensure that all creditworthy borrowers have access to an affordable mortgage. We strongly urge senators to address serious concerns about access and affordability that exist for communities of color before advancing this bill.

“Our housing finance system must, above all, maintain a duty to serve all credit-worthy borrowers. Although there are components of this bill that we support, the legislation as a whole misses the mark because it fails to ensure that Latinos and other traditionally underserved communities won’t be unfairly cut off from affordable mortgage credit,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR. “In fact, this bill could actually make getting a mortgage tougher for middle- and low-income families, the same families who were hurt most by the predatory lending and irresponsible gambling practices of financial institutions that led to our housing crisis. We are deeply disappointed by the unwillingness of some members of the committee to adequately address the mortgage credit needs of our community.”

By 2020, minority households will account for about one-third of all American households, and Latinos alone will account for half of new homebuyers, underscoring the need for housing finance reform to work for communities of color.

“While we are disappointed with the current version of the bill, there is still time to fix the serious structural problems that exist within this legislation,” added Murguía. “To create a housing finance system that works for all Americans, our concerns about access and affordability must be dealt with before the bill moves to the Senate floor.”

NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

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PRESS TELEPHONIC
(Photo-op below)

NATIONAL IMMIGRATION REPORT CARD 2014
Monday, May 19 – Noon EDT (9:00 a.m. PDT)
Dial-in: 866-952-1907 / ID: IMMIGRATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- National Latino voter engagement and civil rights groups will hold a press call on Monday, May 19, to preview grades House members in Latino districts can expect to receive in coming weeks unless they act fast on commonsense immigration reform with a path to citizenship.

The first-ever National Immigration Report Cards have been preliminarily graded. House
leaders and representatives of the top 100 Latino districts will be officially notified on May 19 that their “finals” grading period begins now, and they have only through June to improve their grades before final report cards are delivered to Latino communities across the U.S. The National Immigration Report Card 2014 is a joint project of the Hispanic Federation, the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Mi Familia Vota Education Fund, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), and Voto Latino. The project was announced in December, 2012, after historic Latino voter turnout in that November’s election prompted bipartisan calls for comprehensive immigration reform. Latino leaders pledged to issue congressional report cards to show who has championed commonsense immigration reform and who has not. While the Senate has acted, the House has refused to take a vote.

WHO:
Jose Calderón, President, Hispanic Federation
Hector Sanchez, Executive Director, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement
Brent A. Wilkes, National Executive Director, League of United Latin American Citizens
Ben Monterroso, Executive Director, Mi Familia Vota Education Fund
Janet Murguia, President and CEO, National Council of La Raza
Maria Teresa Kumar, President and CEO, Voto Latino

WHEN: Monday, May 19 – Noon EDT (9:00 a.m. PDT)

WHERE: Dial-in: 866-952-1907 / ID: IMMIGRATION

HASHTAGS: #PassOrFail #CIRGrades

PHOTO-OP: Leaders of the groups will deliver the official letters of notification to House Republican and Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill.

Time: 1:30 PM
Location: Cannon Rotunda

GRAPHIC: Report Cards

For more information, contact:
Hispanic Federation: Joshua Silvia, jsilvia@hispanicfederation.org, 202-641-7186
LCLAA: Victor Baten, vbaten@lclaa.org, 202-508-6989
LULAC: Paloma Zuleta, pzuleta@lulac.org, 202-812-4477
Mi Familia Vota: Gebe Martinez, gebem@mifamiliavota.org, 703-731-9505
NCLR: Joseph Rendeiro, jrendeiro@nclr.org, 202-776-1566
Voto Latino: Jimmy Hernandez, jimmy@votolatino.org, 305-720-0699

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                             Contact:
May 21, 2014                                                                    Julian Teixeira
                                                                                          (202) 776-1812
                                                                                          jteixeira@nclr.org

New report finds financial institutions are missing the mark on engaging the customer of the future

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Access to financial services including credit cards, savings accounts and emerging banking platforms such as online banking is essential to maintaining a healthy middle class. However, banks and other financial institutions are missing the mark when it comes to engaging the customer of the future: communities of color. Join the Alliance for Stabilizing Our Communities (ASOC), which includes NCLR (National Council of La Raza), the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (CAPACD) and the National Urban League (NUL), for a discussion about how the mainstream financial system can increase the financial engagement of low- and moderate-income communities of color in order to ensure that they are more financially secure. The groups will share findings from their new report, “Banking in Color: New Findings on Financial Access for Low- to Moderate-Income Communities,” which examines common banking experiences within these communities, as well as cultural drivers that influence the services consumers seek to meet their banking needs.

To cover this event, RSVP to Julian Teixeira at jteixeira@nclr.org or (202) 776-1812.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT:    Release of “Banking in Color: New Findings on Financial Access for Low- to Moderate-Income Communities”

WHO:      Eric Rodriguez, Vice President, Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation, NCLR
                Lisa Hasegawa, Executive Director, National CAPACD
                J. Oscar Ramirez, CEO, Avenida Guadelupe Association
                Courtnee Biscardi, Vice President of Programs and Operations, Urban League of Broward County
                Additional representative from the U.S. Department of the Treasury (invited)

WHEN:   Wednesday, May 28, 2014
                9:30–10:30 a.m.

WHERE: National Press Club
                Murrow, White, and Lisagor Rooms
                529 14th Street NW
                Washington, D.C. 20045

NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
May 21, 2014
Camila Gallardo
(305) 215-4259
cgallardo@nclr.org

As State legislature fails to act, thousands of Latinos fall into the health care coverage gap

ORLANDO, Fla.—Today, during a noon press conference, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) and community partners, including Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando, Hispanic Health Initiatives, Inc., State Senator Darren Soto, State Representative Ricardo Rangel, State Representative Victor Manuel Torres, Jr., Florida CHAIN, Mi Familia Vota and WellCare Health Plans, Inc., presented findings from an NCLR report: “Medicaid Expansion in Florida: A Latino Perspective.”

The report highlights how the state legislature’s refusal to expand Medicaid in Florida has placed hundreds of thousands of Floridians in a position where they are unable to attain health care coverage. Florida has the third-highest rate of uninsured individuals in the nation (29 percent), and Latinos make up a significant percentage. Thirty-six percent of nonelderly Latinos in the state are currently uninsured, and according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly 200,000 Hispanics are without health coverage as a result of the state’s failure to expand Medicaid.

Latinos suffer certain chronic diseases at higher rates than their white counterparts, which makes preventative health care even more critical for this population. “Health disparities in racial and ethnic minority communities remain a serious issue,” stated Jenna Tosh, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando. “Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among Latinas, and Latina women are twice as likely to lose their lives to cervical cancer as white women. At Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando we see more than 21,000 patient visits each year, and found in a recent survey that 60 percent of our patients fall in the health coverage gap."

Lack of health coverage not only affects the wellness of thousands of the state’s citizens, but their pocketbooks as well. The report underscored the financial strain caused by lack of medical coverage, including alarming national statistics that indicate more than half of U.S. bankruptcies come as a result of medical debt.

In addition, the report highlights the economic benefits of Medicaid expansion, including statistics provided by the Florida legislature’s Social Services Estimating Conference, which show that Medicaid expansion would cost the state $1.7 billion, but would bring in $24.5 billion in federal funding to the state over a 10-year period. To the contrary, Florida is already losing out on almost $7 million per day by not accepting federal help to expand Medicaid.

“Medicaid expansion would not only help address the critical need for individual health care coverage, it would in fact serve as an economic boon for the state in the form of reduced state payments to safety net providers, decreased expenditures on state-funded programs for mental health and substance abuse services accessed by the uninsured, and decreased expenditures on the Medicaid Medically Needy Program, which currently cost the state $500 to $600 million annually,” said Jared Nordlund, Florida Senior Strategist, NCLR. “The state legislature should reconsider its position on Medicaid expansion, particularly as it’s clear it would only serve to benefit the health and well-being of Floridians and help boost the state’s economy,” Nordlund concluded.

NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter. 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                Contact:
May 23, 2014                                                                                                       Joseph Rendeiro
                                                                                                                             (202) 776-1566
                                                                                                                             jrendeiro@nclr.org

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Earlier today, President Obama officially nominated San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro to replace Shaun Donovan as U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. NCLR (National Council of La Raza) applauds the president for nominating a highly qualified candidate, whose experience as a three-term mayor of one of the nation’s largest cities will bring renewed vigor, energy and focus to the nation’s top housing agency.

“As we have said, the president hit a home run with this nomination,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR. “Julian Castro has become a respected and nationally acclaimed leader on urban revitalization and economic development, the issues at the heart of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s work. We especially look forward to working with him to complete the department’s unfinished business of alleviating once and for all the housing crisis that continues to affect millions of Americans, especially in communities of color.”

“We also urge the U.S. Senate, including the Republican side of the aisle, to take heed of the outpouring support for Mayor Castro and this nomination from the Latino community. Not only is he one of our community’s rising stars, he is also unquestionably qualified for this post. Therefore, our community is looking for the Senate to swiftly confirm him with strong bipartisan support,” concluded Murguía.

NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                Contact:
May 27, 2014                                                                                      Julian Teixeira
                                                                                                            (202) 776-1812
                                                                                                            jteixeira@nclr.org

New report finds financial institutions are missing the mark on engaging the customer of the future

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Access to financial services including credit cards, savings accounts and emerging banking platforms such as online banking is essential to maintaining a healthy middle class. However, banks and other financial institutions are missing the mark when it comes to engaging the customer of the future: communities of color. Join the Alliance for Stabilizing Our Communities (ASOC), which includes NCLR (National Council of La Raza), the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (CAPACD) and the National Urban League (NUL), for a discussion about how the mainstream financial system can increase the financial engagement of low- and moderate-income communities of color in order to ensure that they are more financially secure. The groups will share findings from their new report, “Banking in Color: New Findings on Financial Access for Low- and Moderate-Income Communities,” which examines common banking experiences within these communities, as well as cultural drivers that influence the services consumers seek to meet their banking needs.

To cover this event, RSVP to Julian Teixeira at jteixeira@nclr.org or (202) 776-1812.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT:   Release of “Banking in Color: New Findings on Financial Access for Low- and Moderate-Income Communities”

WHO:     Eric Rodriguez, Vice President, Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation, NCLR
              Lisa Hasegawa, Executive Director, National CAPACD
              Melissa Koide, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Treasury
              J. Oscar Ramirez, President/CEO, Avenida Guadalupe Association
              Courtnee Biscardi, Vice President of Programs and Operations, Urban League of Broward County
              Additional representatives from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Citibank (invited)

WHEN:   Wednesday, May 28, 2014
                9:30–10:30 a.m.

WHERE: National Press Club
                Murrow, White, and Lisagor Rooms
                529 14th Street NW
                Washington, D.C. 20045

NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

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PARA DIVULGACIÓN IMMEDIATA                                                                                  Contacto
28 de mayo de 2014                                                                                                         Julian Teixeira
                                                                                                                                           (202) 776-1812
                                                                                                                                           jteixeira@nclr.org
                                                                                                                                          Jane Duong
                                                                                                                                          (415) 606-8976
                                                                                                                                          jane@nationalcapacd.org
                                                                                                                                          Pamela Springs
                                                                                                                                          (202) 629-5757
                                                                                                                                          pruckersprings@nul.org

WASHINGTON, D.C.—A medida que los Estados Unidos se desplaza hacia una población donde las minorías serán la mayoría en las próximas décadas, los bancos y otras instituciones financieras tendrán que desarrollar nuevas estrategias y herramientas para involucrar a los clientes del futuro: las comunidades de color. Un nuevo informe titulado “Banking in Color: New Findings on Financial Access for Low- to Moderate-Income Communities” (Actividades bancarias en color: Nuevos hallazgos sobre el acceso financiero para las comunidades de bajos y medianos ingresos) examina el acceso de las familias de bajos a medianos ingresos de las comunidades de color a las instituciones financieras. Este estudio analizó los datos en varios estados y comunidades que cumplen las necesidades financieras de este sector de la población y los niveles con los cuales están comprometidos financieramente.

“Cinco años después de una de las peores crisis económicas en la historia de los EE.UU., las comunidades de color siguen luchando por recuperar la enorme cantidad de riqueza de las viviendas que perdieron, cuando al mismo tiempo enfrentan la actual crisis hipotecaria y los altos niveles de desempleo" dijo Eric Rodríguez, Vice Presidente of la Oficina de Investigación, Defensa y Legislación del Consejo Nacional de La Raza (NCLR, por sus siglas en inglés). “Para garantizar la estabilidad económica futura de esta nación, tenemos que trazar un camino hacia la seguridad financiera de nuestras comunidades. Ese camino debe comenzar identificando la información y herramientas necesarias para mejorar el acceso a los servicios financieros que nuestras comunidades deben tener”.

Este nuevo informe elaborado por Alliance for Stabilizing our Communities (ASOC, por sus siglas en inglés) — que incluye a National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD, por sus siglas en inglés), National Urban League (NUL, por sus siglas en inglés) y al NCLR — señala una serie de oportunidades potenciales para las instituciones financieras para que mejoren la actividad bancaria para los consumidores de bajos ingresos. Por ejemplo, aunque la mayoría de las personas que participaron en esta encuesta poseían una cuenta corriente o cuenta de ahorros en un banco tradicional, los participantes dijeron que ellos tratan de evitar la rápida expansión de las plataformas bancarias en línea o mediante el uso de teléfonos móviles ya que prefieren hacer las transacciones bancarias en persona por razones de seguridad. Y mientras que el 60 por ciento de los encuestados dijeron que tenían al menos una tarjeta de crédito que usan regularmente, menos de la mitad de los entrevistados sabían su puntaje crediticio.

“Es fundamental entender cómo las comunidades de color tienen acceso a los productos y servicios financieros para identificar las barreras que limitan que tales comunidades logren la seguridad económica de las familias más aisladas y vulnerables”, se expresó Lisa Hasegawa, Directora Ejecutiva de National CAPACD. “Este informe proporciona datos de importancia sobre la industria de servicios financieros y los lineamientos políticos a seguir para cumplir las necesidades de las comunidades de color de ingresos medios y bajos. Así mismo, el informe subraya la importancia de tener servicios culturales y lingüísticos apropiados”.

Mientras que las familias de bajos ingresos tratan de ahorrar, aún tienen grandes dificultades cuando deben enfrentar casos de emergencia mientras todavía se esfuerzan por reponer los ahorros perdidos con la caída de la economía. Aunque más de la mitad de las personas encuestadas dijeron que hacen depósitos en sus cuentas de ahorros, pocos dijeron que tendrían suficiente dinero para cubrir gastos inesperados o emergencias. Los datos de la encuesta también demostraron que las personas de estas comunidades han quedado a la zaga respecto a la posibilidad de ahorrar para su jubilación.

“Los resultados de esta investigación simplemente subrayan lo que ya sabemos sobre la precariedad económica de las comunidades de color”, dijo Cy Richardson, Vicepresidente Sénior de Economía y Vivienda de National Urban League. El informe enfatiza las características culturales clave que impulsan la demanda del consumidor y ofrecen el camino para que el sector que ofrece servicios financieros pueda alinear los nuevos productos para suplir las necesidades de la comunidad. Más allá de las recomendaciones, este proyecto refleja el destino racial compartido que une a las tres organizaciones promotoras de este esfuerzo, que reunidas hace media década, formaron una asociación sostenible llamada Alliance for Stabilizing Our Communities”.

El Consejo Nacional de La Raza (NCLR, por sus siglas en inglés) –la organización nacional más grande de apoyo y defensa de los derechos civiles de los hispanos en los Estados Unidos– trabaja para mejorar las oportunidades de los estadounidenses hispanos. Para más información sobre NCLR, visite www.nclr.org o síganos en Facebook y Twitter.

National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development es la primera organización nacional de defensa dedicada a atender las necesidades de vivienda, comunidad, y desarrollo económico de las diferentes y pujantes comunidades asiático-americanas y de las islas del Pacífico(Asian American and Pacific Islander o AAPI, por sus siglas en inglés). Para más información, visite National CAPACD en Twitter y Facebook.

The National Urban League (www.nul.org) es una histórica organización sobre los derechos civiles y de defensa urbana, dedicada al empoderamiento económico de las comunidades urbanas que históricamente se hallan marginadas. Para más información, conectarse con National Urban League en Twitter (@NatUrbanLeague).

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                Contact:
May 28, 2014                                                                                                       Julian Teixeira
                                                                                                                                (202) 776-1812
                                                                                                                                jteixeira@nclr.org
                                                                                                                               Jane Duong
                                                                                                                               (415) 606-8976
                                                                                                                               jane@nationalcapacd.org
                                                                                                                               Pamela Springs
                                                                                                                               (202) 629-5757
                                                                                                                               pruckersprings@nul.org

WASHINGTON, D.C.—As the United States shifts to a majority-minority population over the coming decades, banks and other financial institutions will need to develop new strategies and tools to engage the customers of the future: communities of color. A new report, “Banking in Color: New Findings on Financial Access for Low- to Moderate-Income Communities,” examines how low- to moderate-income households across various communities and states are meeting their financial needs, and the levels to which they are financially engaged.

“Five years after one of the worst economic downturns in U.S. history, communities of color are still struggling to recover the huge amount of household wealth that was lost, while simultaneously dealing with an existing foreclosure crisis and high levels of unemployment,” said Eric Rodriguez, Vice President of the Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation at NCLR (National Council of La Raza). “In order to guarantee the future economic stability of this nation, we have to get our communities on a path to financial security, which begins with identifying the information and tools that they need to bank better.”

This new report, authored by the Alliance for Stabilizing our Communities (ASOC)—including National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD), National Urban League (NUL) and NCLR—noted a number of potential opportunities for financial institutions to improve banking for low-income consumers. For example, although the majority of participants surveyed had a checking or savings account with a traditional bank, they tended to avoid the rapidly expanding online and mobile banking platforms in favor of face-to-face transactions, due to security concerns. And while 60 percent of respondents reported owning at least one credit card and using it regularly, less than half of respondents knew their credit score.

“Understanding how communities of color access financial products and services is critical to identifying barriers in achieving economic security for the most financially isolated and vulnerable families,” said Lisa Hasegawa, Executive Director for National CAPACD. “This report gives the financial services industry and policymakers guidance on meeting the needs of low- to moderate-income communities of color, and underscores the importance of linguistically and culturally appropriate services.”

While low-income families are trying to save, they remain vulnerable to emergencies as they try to replenish the savings cushion they lost during the economic downtown. Although more than half of individuals surveyed said that they save via deposits into a savings account, few said that they would have enough money to cover unexpected expenses or emergencies. Data also showed that these communities are behind in saving for retirement.

“The findings from this research do more than simply underscore what we already understand about the economic precariousness in communities of color,” said Cy Richardson, Senior Vice President, Economics and Housing, National Urban League. The report hones in on key cultural characteristics that drive consumer demand and provides a pathway for the financial services sector to align new products with community needs. Beyond the recommendations themselves, this project reflects the shared racial fate that binds the three author organizations, who came together a half decade ago to form the sustainable partnership that is the Alliance for Stabilizing [our] Communities.”

NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development is the first national advocacy organization dedicated to addressing the housing, community and economic development needs of diverse and growing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Find National CAPACD on Twitter and Facebook.

The National Urban League (www.nul.org) is a historic civil rights and urban advocacy organization dedicated to economic empowerment in historically underserved urban communities. Connect with the National Urban League on Twitter (@NatUrbanLeague).

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For Immediate Release
May 28, 2014
Contact: See below
Twitter: #CIRscores

Latino Leaders Preview House Scores

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The immigration reform stalemate on Capitol Hill, caused by the GOP leaders’ inaction on the issue, is bringing down score card ratings of House members in the 2014 National Immigration Score Card issued Wednesday by national Latino groups.

The preliminary score card ratings for all 435 House members were disclosed during a telephonic press conference by leaders of the Hispanic Federation, the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Mi Familia Vota Education Fund, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) and Voto Latino. Each of these organizations is active in civic engagement campaigns that include citizenship drives, voter registration and mobilization and immigration advocacy.

House members also received letters notifying them that they can improve their scores by passing immigration reform with an earned path to citizenship before the final 2014 National Immigration Score Card is issued in July and delivered to Latino communities and interested parties across the U.S. this summer.

The score card ratings to date are based on immigration related House votes that have been taken during 113th Congress. While many members have stated support for commonsense immigration reform with a path to citizenship, the failure of House leaders to call for a floor vote on a comprehensive reform plan has brought down the scores of many members.

“This score card allows Latinos and all Americans to learn more about Congress members’ legislative records on the important issue of immigration reform,” said José Calderón, president of the Hispanic Federation. “It should serve as a wake-up call to those members of Congress who are not helping to advance the cause of just and pragmatic reform. Failure in leadership on immigration will certainly not go unnoticed by our community.”

“Our community is being disproportionately devastated by the broken immigration system that this Congress refuses to fix. This preliminary score card shows that most in Congress are clearly failng us on immigration right now,” said Hector Sanchez, Executive Director of LCLAA. “Latinos can no longer tolerate more excuses on why reform has not passed. There is still an opportunity for the members to improve their standing before our final score card is released in July. I urge all members of the House of Representatives to support immigration reform and urge the House leadership to call for a vote today.”

“In 2016, Latinos will again be an ethnic group which both Republicans and Democrats will aggressively court," said Brent Wilkes, national executive director, LULAC. "It is critical that our community be well versed on which members of Congress fought for immigration reform and which did not. This score card will enable voters to look past election year rhetoric and use this information to enable them to cast an informed vote on candidates related to this issue.”

"The scores of many members would be higher if the GOP leadership, which controls the House, would let the full House take a vote on commonsense immigration reform with a path to citizenship," said Ben Monterroso, executive director of Mi Familia Vota. "The score card should remind Congress that our community does not forget those who turn their backs on us, and Congress is sadly mistaken if it thinks it can ignore the Latino community."

“These scores reflect that House Republicans are not only failing the Latino community, but they also suggest that the GOP may never again graduate to the White House,” said Janet Murguia, President and CEO of National Council of La Raza.

“The GOP is on the verge of losing an entire generation of voters – Millennials,” said María Teresa Kumar, President and CEO, Voto Latino. “They forget the same thing happened to Democrats in the 1980s. History is repeating itself, and the GOP must course-correct to avoid the consequences of inaction.”

The Senate was scored at the end of 2013 after passing immigration reform. It’s time for the House to do its job, the leaders said.

The final scores for House members will be based on the following criteria:

     Co-Sponsorship of H.R. 15, Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (List of co-sponsors)

     Signature on Discharge Petition for H.R. 15, Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (Current signatures on 113th Congress Discharge Petition Number 0009)

     A recorded “NO” vote on Rep. Steve King’s Amendment to H.R. 2217, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill (Roll Call Number 208, 113th Congress, 1st Session)

     A recorded “NO” vote on the “ENFORCE Act of 2014” H.R. 4138 (Roll Call Number 124, 113th Congress, 2nd Session)

     A recorded “NO” vote on the Faithful Execution of the Law Act of 2014, H.R. 3973 (Roll Call Number 129, 113th Congress, 2nd Session)

     A recorded “YES” vote on the Nadler amendment A No. 2 to the “ENFORCE Act” (Roll Call Number 121, 113th Congress, 2nd Session)

     A recorded “YES” vote on the Deutch amendment to H.R. 2217 (Roll Call Number 198, 113th Congress, 1st Session)

     Public statements in support of immigration reform with an earned path to citizenship in the House of Representatives.

For more information, contact:

HISPANIC FEDERATION: Joshua Silvia, jsilvia@hispanicfederation.org, 202-641-7186
LCLAA: Victor Baten, vbaten@lclaa.org, 202-508-6989
LULAC: Paloma Zuleta, pzuleta@lulac.org, 202-812-4477
Mi Familia Vota Education Fund: Gebe Martinez, gebem@mifamiliavota.org, 703-731-9505
NCLR: Joseph Rendeiro, jrendeiro@nclr.org, 202-776-1566
Voto Latino: Jimmy Hernandez, jimmy@votolatino.org, 305-720-0699

Follow us on Twitter: #CIRscores

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The mission of the Hispanic Federation is to empower and advance the Hispanic community. The Hispanic Federation provides grants and services to a broad network of Latino non-profit agencies serving the most vulnerable members of the Hispanic community and advocates nationally with respect to the vital issues of education, health, immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement and the environment. For more information, please visit www.hispanicfederation.org.

The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) is the leading national organization for Latino(a) workers and their families. LCLAA represents the interest of more than 2 million Latino workers in the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), The Change to Win Federation, Independent Unions and all its membership. Visit LCLAA on the web at www.lclaa.org, on Facebook and Twitter.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 900 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org.

Mi Familia Vota Education Fund is a national nonprofit organization that unites Latino, immigrant, and allied communities to promote social and economic justice through increased civic participation by promoting citizenship, voter registration, and voter participation. Mi Familia Vota is one of the premiere Latino civic engagement organizations in the country with operations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and Texas. Visit online: www.mifamiliavota.org | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube |

National Council of La Raza—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

Voto Latino is a nonpartisan organization that empowers Latino Millennials to claim a better future for themselves and their community. United by the belief that Latino issues are American issues and American issues are Latino issues, Voto Latino is dedicated to bringing new and diverse voices to develop leaders by engaging youth, media, technology and celebrities to promote positive change. To learn more about Voto Latino, visit www.VotoLatino.org. Also engage Voto Latino on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VotoLatino, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VotoLatino, on Instagram at www.instagram.com/VotoLatino, and on Google+ at www.google.com/+VotoLatino.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                         Contact:
May 29, 2014                                                                                               Camila Gallardo
                                                                                                                    (305) 215-4259
                                                                                                                    cgallardo@nclr.org

Town hall in Miami focuses on how Latinos can plan for a more beneficial retirement

MIAMI—A town hall held in Miami today brought together Latino workers who are thinking about when to retire and begin collecting Social Security benefits. Attendees at the forum, hosted by NCLR (National Council of La Raza) and AARP, learned how they can significantly increase their Social Security retirement benefits by delaying when they claim them. Participants learned that waiting even one extra year could make a big difference in their benefits for the rest of their lives. The forum, which was called “Latinos and Social Security: It Pays to Wait,” held in Spanish and part of the Latinos and Social Security ¡Tu Futuro Cuenta! campaign, featured Social Security experts who shared information with the largely Latino audience.

“One of the most important decisions we make is when to start receiving Social Security retirement benefits,” said Leticia Miranda, Senior Policy Advisor, Economic Security Policy, NCLR. “The gains from waiting are greater now than they used to be. Previously the bonus for delaying one year was 3 percent. Now it can be up to 8 percent. It is more beneficial than ever to delay claiming Social Security.”

Consider, for example, a worker whose monthly benefit would be $750 if they retired at age 62. That worker would get $800 if they delayed one year and $866 if they delayed two years. If that worker delayed until age 66 they would get $1,000 in monthly benefits, and if they delayed all the way to age 70 they would get $1,320.

“Heavy dependence on Social Security means that Latinos can benefit from any strategies to increase their Social Security benefits. Over half of Latino seniors (55 percent) depend on Social Security for almost all of their income. In addition, average yearly benefits for Hispanic seniors are just $13,295 for men and $10,500 for women. And Latino seniors are more than twice as likely to live in poverty compared to all American seniors—21 percent versus 9 percent. Latinos could reduce their poverty in old age and increase their benefits by adopting strategies such as delaying when they receive benefits,” said Miranda.

The decision about when to begin collecting benefits also affects a worker’s spouse and survivors. Since a surviving widow or widower is entitled to 100 percent of their deceased spouse’s benefits, the primary worker can provide more protection to their survivor by delaying when they take benefits. Living spouses can maximize their benefits by waiting until their full retirement age to collect spousal benefits.

In Miami-Dade County, Social Security contributes more than $4.8 billion annually to the local economy by paying benefits to more than 402,543 beneficiaries, including retirees, disabled workers and children. Social Security contributes $55 billion to the Florida economy, serves over four million residents of Florida and prevents 1.6 million of them from living in poverty.

The Miami forum is also part of a larger campaign by the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI) called When to Take Social Security: It Pays to Wait. This campaign informs American workers about the benefits of delaying when they claim Social Security. Other groups participating in this campaign include the National Women’s Law Center and the National Urban League.

NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

For more information about the NASI campaign, visit www.nasi.org/WhenToTakeSocialSecurity.

For more information about AARP, visit www.aarp.org.

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PARA DIVULGACIÓN INMEDIATA                                                             Contacto:
29 de mayo, 2014                                                                                       Camila Gallardo
                                                                                                                  cgallardo@nclr.org
                                                                                                                  (305)215-4259

Foro en Miami destaca como los hispanos pueden planear para un retiro más beneficioso

MIAMI—Un foro comunitario en Miami, FL hoy reunió a grupos de trabajadores hispanos quienes están pensando en su futuro retiro y tratando de determinar cuando retirarse y comenzar a colectar beneficios del Seguro Social. Los participantes en el foro patrocinado por NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza por sus siglas en ingles) y AARP, aprendieron como pueden aumentar significativamente sus beneficios de retiro del Seguro Social posponiendo la fecha en que comienzan a colectar esos beneficios. Los participantes aprendieron que con esperar solo un año, hay una diferencia inmensa en los beneficios que recibirán el resto de sus vidas. El foro titulado “Latinos y el Seguro Social: Vale Esperar,” es parte de la campaña¡Tu Futuro Cuenta! que utiliza a expertos en el tema para compartir información con la comunidad.

“Una de las decisiones más importantes que vamos a tomar es cuando comenzar a recibir los beneficios del Seguro Social,” dijo Leticia Miranda, Asesora Principal, Política de Seguridad Económica, NCLR. “Las ganancias que podemos tener simplemente por esperar son mucho más grandes de los que veíamos en el pasado. Antiguamente, el incentivo para esperar un año era solo 3 porciento. Hoy día, puede llegar hasta el 8 por ciento. Es más beneficioso que nunca esperar para reclamar los beneficios del Seguro Social.”

Considera por ejemplo, un trabajador que recibe beneficios de $750 que se retira a los 62. Ese mismo trabajador recibiera $800 si esperaba un año y $866 si espera dos. Si espera hasta los 66, recibiría $1,000 en beneficios mensuales, y a los 70, recibiría $1,320.

“Esta dependencia en el Seguro Social significa que los hispanos pueden beneficiar de cualquier estrategia para incrementar los beneficios del Seguro Social. Más de mitad de los hispanos de tercera edad (55%) dependen del Seguro para casi todo su ingreso. Adicionalmente, el promedio que reciben los hispanos son solo $13,295 para los hombres y $10,500 para las mujeres. Los ancianos latinos son más propensos de vivir en la pobreza comparado con los anglo americanos—el 21 por ciento comparado con los 9 por ciento,” dijo Miranda.

La decisión de cuando colectar los beneficios afecta no solo a los trabajadores pero a sus familiares y sobrevivientes que recibirían el 100 por ciento de los beneficios de su esposo/esposa.

En Miami-Dade County, el Social Security contribuye más de $4.8 mil millones anualmente a la encomia local y reparte beneficios a mas de 402,543 retirados, trabajadores deshabilitados y niños. El Seguro Social también contribuye $55 mil millones a la economía floridana y sirve a mas de 4 millones de residentes en el estado, previniendo que más de 1.6 millones de ellos caigan en la pobreza.

El foro en Miami es parte de una campana patrocinada por el National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI) llamado Cuando Colectar el Seguro Social: Vale Esperar . Esta campaña informa a los trabajadores americanos sobre los benéficos de esperar para colectar el Seguro Social. Otros participantes en el programa incluyen al National Women’s Law Center y el National Urban League.

El NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza) es la organización nacional más grande de apoyo y defensa de los derechos civiles de los hispanos en los Estados Unidos y trabaja para mejorar sus oportunidades. Para más información sobre el NCLR, por favor visite http://www.nclr.org o síganos en Facebook y Twitter.

Para más información sobre el NASI, visite www.nasi.org/WhenToTakeSocialSecurity.

Para más información sobre el AARP, visite www.aarp.org.
 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Julian Teixeira
(202) 776-1812
jteixeira@nclr.org

LOS ANGELES—NCLR will announce the events, speakers and highlights for the upcoming 2014 NCLR Annual Conference and Latino Family Expo at a press briefing on Tuesday, June 10, in Los Angeles. This year’s Conference, presented by Toyota and JPMorgan Chase, will be held July 19–22 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The briefing, which will include remarks from NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía, will take place at the Los Angeles City Hall.

The 2014 NCLR Annual Conference, themed “Think. Create. Aspire.,” is the preeminent event for NCLR, the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States. Previous high-profile guests have included President Barack Obama; Vice President Joe Biden; Sen. John McCain; Melinda Gates; legendary entertainer Rita Moreno; and Suze Orman, financial advisor, author, and television personality.

The briefing will also offer a preview of what families can experience at the 2014 NCLR National Latino Family Expo®. Presented by UPS, the National Latino Family Expo is one of the largest events in the country focused on resources and activities for the Latino family, with more than 100 exhibitors showcasing their products and services. From live entertainment and giveaways to free health screenings and informative demonstrations, everyone will discover something new in a fun and exciting environment that the entire family will enjoy. The National Latino Family Expo is free and open to all to attend.
 

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT: 
Press briefing to preview events, highlights and speakers for the 2014 NCLR Annual Conference and National Latino Family Expo

WHO:
Janet Murguía, President and CEO, NCLR
Alice Rodriguez, Executive Vice President, Business Banking, California Region Manager, JPMorgan Chase
Patricia Salas Pineda, Vice President, Hispanic Business Strategy, Toyota Motor North America Inc.
Lisa Lynn, Director, Corporate Relations, The UPS Foundation

WHEN:
Tuesday, June 10, 2014, 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:
Los Angeles City Hall
Spring Street Steps
200 N. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

All media must register in advance. Please confirm your attendance for this event by contacting Julian Teixeira at jteixeira@nclr.org by Monday, June 9, 2014.

To register for press credentials for Conference, please visit www.nclr.org/pressregistration.

NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

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PARA DIVULGACIÓN INMEDIATA                                                                      Contacto:
23 de octubre, 2013                                                                                             Camila Gallardo
                                                                                                                          (305)215-4259
                                                                                                                           cgallardo@nclr.org

Preocupaciones sobre la elegibilidad y barreras de idioma son retos identificados por grupos trabajando en las comunidades para ayudar a inscribir a los latinos

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Hoy, el Consejo Nacional de La Raza (NCLR por sus siglas en inglés) se unió al MHP de Welasco, Texas y el Centro de Salud Tiburcio Vazquez de Union City, California, dos miembros del NCLR Red de Grupos Afiliados, en una rueda de prensa donde se discutió el estatus de las inscripciones de los latinos en los planes de seguro médico que ahora son accesibles bajo la Ley de Cuidado de Salud Asequible (ACA). Desde que paso la nueva ley, el NCLR ha trabajado con la Administración y sus agencias para ayudar a los 10.2 millones de latinos elegíbles para cobertura a través de los mercados de seguro a que se informan sobre sus opciones y se inscriban antes de la fecha límite del 31 de marzo, 2014. La semana pasada, el NCLR anunció su propia campaña, ‘¡Inscríbete!’ para ayudar a reforzar el trabajo de los grupos comunitarios que son claves en llevar el mensaje de la importancia de la inscripción a una audiencia latina diversa.

“Como el grupo menos asegurado en el país, los latinos pueden beneficiarse enormemente de la oportunidad de comprar cuidado de salud asequible, pero tenemos que cerciorarnos que no hay obstáculos en ese camino que impida que estas personas obtengan cobertura. Los latinos son afectados considerablemente por la falta de información sobre los requerimientos y la elegibilidad y, para algunos, es la barrera del idioma. Por eso el NCLR está trabajando muy cercanamente con nuestra red de afiliadas de más de 300 grupos en 41 estados y Puerto Rico, mitad cuales se dedican a los temas de salud, para que nuestra comunidad se inscriba,” dijo Janet Murguía, Presidenta y Gerente General del NCLR.

NCLR ha estado envuelto en varios esfuerzos para ayudar a desarrollar la implementación de manera que maximice los beneficios para las familias hispanas. Esfuerzos incluyen colaboración con organizaciones hermanas nacionales para divulgar información sobre la elegibilidad y los beneficios como este volante creado por el NCLR y una organización hermana, Families USA. NCLR ayudará a amplificar la capacidad de sus Afiliados proveyendo recursos y herramientas que incluyen una serie de conferencias sobre el web que ayudan a identificar y resolver temas que puedan servir como obstáculos para la inscripción y también trabajar con fuentes mediáticas en español para dar a conocer a la audiencia hispana cuáles son sus opciones. La interés existe—nuestras organizaciones afiliadas han reportado que en pocos días se la han agotado los volantes informativos.

“Utilizando el modelo de Trabajador de Salud Comunitario/Promotores, hoy comenzamos a proveer asistencia en varios locales a través del Rio Grande Valley con un énfasis en llegar a esas familias que presentan dificultades,” dijo Rachel Udow, Program Director, MHP. “Estableciendo un grupo de organizaciones con el enfoque en proveer ayuda en el tema del mercado de seguros ha sido enormemente beneficioso para formar una buena fundación para el ACA en nuestra área. Hemos encontrado que patrocinar grupos de discusión y promover actividades que sirven para informar a nuestra audiencia ha sido exitoso en llegar a nuestras familias con un mensaje que toma en cuenta su realidad cultural y geográfica.”

A pesar de estos esfuerzos, preguntas sobre la elegibilidad en familias de diferentes estatus migratorios, falta de información en el idioma español, barreras de tecnología, y preguntas sobre los impuestos y los ingresos han sido reportados por los grupos Afiliados como razones por la cual algunos latinos todavía no han tomado ventaja del período abierto de inscripción.

“Queremos que nuestra comunidad comience ya a inscribirse y por eso estamos haciendo nuestra parte para ayudar a contestar sus preguntas sobre el proceso. Ya es hora de que tomen plena ventaja de la información y las investigaciones que tienen disponibles para considerar sus mejores opciones; sabemos que es una decisión que toma tiempo. El cuidado de salud es una base crítica para una mejor vida, lo más que podemos recalcarle esto a nuestras familias latinas y clarificar cualquier pregunta o inquietud que tengan sobre el proceso, lo más pronto nuestra comunidad puede gozar de los beneficios de un cuidado de salud de calidad,” concluyó Murguía.

El NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza) es la organización nacional más grande de apoyo y defensa de los derechos civiles de los hispanos en los Estados Unidos y trabaja para mejorar sus oportunidades. Para más información sobre el NCLR, por favor visite www.nclr.org o síganos en Facebook y Twitter.

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PARA DIVULGACIÓN INMEDIATA                                              Contacto:
10 de junio, 2014                                                                         Julian Teixeira
                                                                                                     (202) 776-1812
                                                                                                     jteixeira@nclr.org

La Ciudad de Los Angeles auspiciará a la reunión más grande de líderes latinos en el país 

LOS ANGELES—NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza por sus siglas en inglés) hoy anunció la formación de su Conferencia Anual 2014 y Expo Nacional de La Familia Latina, el evento preeminente del NCLR y de los latinos en el país. Volviendo a Los Angeles por la cuarta vez, la Conferencia Anual y Expo Nacional de La Familia Latina tomará lugar el sábado, 19 de julio, al martes, 22 de julio, en el JW Marriott Los Angeles y L.A. LIVE.

La Conferencia Anual del NCLR y el Expo Nacional de la Familia Latina han convocado a las voces más prominentes e influénciales en el país quienes trabajan con la comunidad latina, incluyendo a líderes comunitarios, activistas y voluntarios; oficiales electos y oficiales designados; miembros de las comunidades filantrópicas, académicas, y corporativas. Los participantes tendrán la oportunidad de aprender sobre temas corrientes que están impactando a la comunidad hispana y oír de líderes prominentes en las áreas de inmigración, educación, derechos civiles, salud, desarrollo laboral, y liderazgo juvenil, entre otros temas.

“Estamos muy contentos de tener nuestra conferencia de nuevo aquí en Los Angeles. California siempre ha sido un líder en cuanto se concierne la comunidad latina, el primer estado a ver un crecimiento demográfico fenomenal, y enfrentarse a los retos y oportunidades que vienen como resultado de este crecimiento. Es justo decir que California es emblemático de lo que será la demográfica nacional en un futuro cercano. Cuando viene a los triunfos de la comunidad latina, a través de todo sector, California será un líder,” dijo Janet Murguía, Presidenta y Gerente General del NCLR.

Patrocinadores titulares de la Conferencia Anual del NCLR 2014 incluyen a Toyota y JP Morgan Chase & Co. y el tema de este año es “Piensa. Crea. Aspira.” El evento auspiciará a más de 60 talleres, cuatro foros, cinco comidas incluyendo al Almuerzo de las Latinas y la Gala del NCLR, al igual que múltiples eventos que permitirán la formación de redes de contactos.

La Conferencia de este año cuenta con presentadores prominentes incluyendo al Alcalde de la Ciudad de Los Angeles Eric Garcetti, la Senadora Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jefa de de Finanzas y Operaciones de Facebook Sheryl Sandberg, Fiscal General de California Kamala Harris, y muchos más. El Arzobispo de Los Angeles Jose H. Gomez, dará la invocación el sábado 19 de julio durante el almuerzo de la Conferencia Anual.

Adicionalmente, la Conferencia Anual del 2014 tendrá lo mejor en entretenimiento latino, incluyendo a John Leguizamo y Anjelah Johnson, quienes estarán en la Noche de Comedia de NuvoTV en la Conferencia.

“Como un socio del NCLR desde el 2002, Toyota se enorgullece en volver a ser patrocinador titular de la Conferencia Anual del NCLR,” dijo Patricia Salas Pineda, Vice Presidenta de Estrategia de Negocio Hispano para Toyota y Miembro de La Junta de Asesoría del NCLR. “Tenemos mucho respeto por el trabajo del NCLR a través del país y estamos entusiasmados de participar en tan importante convocatorio de líderes hispanos.”

“JPMorgan Chase está contento de ser un co-patrocinador titular de la Conferencia Anual 2014 del NCLR y el Expo Nacional de la Familia Latina,” dijo Alice Rodriguez, Vice Presidenta Ejecutiva y Directora Regional para Chase Business Banking. “Tenemos una relación duradera con NCLR y apreciamos muchísimo nuestra relación de trabajo. Juntos, compartimos un firme compromiso a la comunidad latina y a la ciudad de Los Angeles. Estamos entusiasmados de compartir una experiencia alentadora e instructiva en la Conferencia.”

Todo participe y miembros de la comunidad en Los Angeles están invitados al Expo Nacional de la Familia Latina, patrocinado por UPS. Esta experiencia gratuita familiar está abierta al público, y ofrecerá varios pabellones de diferentes temas que incluirán juegos, premios, entretenimiento en vivo, ejemplos de productos y más. El Expo Nacional de la Familia Latina estará abierto al público desde el sábado, 19 de julio, al lunes, 21 de julio.

“UPS ha sido un socio comprometido del NCLR por más de 30 años y estamos orgullosos de patrocinar el Expo Nacional de la Familia Latina,” dijo Eduardo Martinez, Presidente de la Fundación UPS. “Nuestra diversa fuerza laboral tiene aproximadamente 400,000 empleados alrededor del mundo y lo consideramos la fuerza de nuestra compañía. UPS promueve la diversidad e inclusión de todos, y trabajamos para crear oportunidades para aquellos segmentos de nuestra sociedad global que carece de servicios y representación.”

El Expo Nacional de la Familia Latina del NCLR es uno de los eventos más grandes en el país que se enfoca en traer recursos y actividades para la familia latina, con más de 100 exhibidores mostrando sus productos y servicios. Desde entretenimiento en vivo a exámenes de salud a demostraciones interactivas, todos descubrirán algo nuevo y divertido en un ambiente que disfrutara toda la familia. El Expo esta abierto a todos y es gratuito!

Dora and Friends (Dora y sus Amigos) servirán como embajadores oficiales del Expo, cortesía de Nickelodeon. En el Expo, visitantes pueden asistir a firmas de autógrafos de distintas celebridades en deportes y entretenimiento, participar en demostraciones de productos, competir en Copa NCLR, el torneo anual de futbol del NCLR. Unos de los eventos desatacadores del Expo Nacional de la Familia Latina tomarán lugar en el Pabellón Tu Salud; aquí participantes pueden recibir una variedad de examines médicos gratuitos incluyendo del riñón, dental, colesterol, y visión para mencionar algunos. El Pabellón El Futuro proveerá la oportunidad de conocer avances en medicina, tecnología, ingeniera, y matemáticas que harán nuestras vidas cotidianas más fáciles. Adicionalmente, una variedad amplia de recurso educacionales y de carrera serán disponibles, en el Pabellón Tus Oportunidades: Nickelodeon destacará a Beyond the Backpack (Mas allá de la Mochila), una iniciativa para capacitor a los niños de kindergarten en lectura. Esto incluirá juegos para los niños y capacitación para los padres y familiares para que ayuden a preparar a los niños para la escuela. El Expo es divertido, interactivo, e informativo —todo en un ambiente familiar y seguro.

Oprima aquí para aprender más o para inscribirse para la Conferencia Anual del NCLR 2014 en Los Angeles.

Para obtener credenciales de prensa, la prensa debe registrarse en http://nclr.emsreg.com/nclr14/public/mediaregistration.aspx.

El Consejo Nacional de La Raza (NCLR, por sus siglas en inglés) –la organización nacional más grande de apoyo y defensa de los derechos civiles de los hispanos en los Estados Unidos– trabaja para mejorar las oportunidades de los estadounidenses hispanos. Para más información sobre el NCLR, por favor visite http://www.nclr.org/ o síganos en Facebook y Twitter.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     Contact:
June 10, 2014                                                                          Julian Teixeira
                                                                                                 (202) 776-1812
                                                                                                 jteixeira@nclr.org

Los Angeles plays host to nation’s largest gathering of Latino leaders 

LOS ANGELES—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) today announced highlights of its upcoming 2014 Annual Conference and National Latino Family Expo®, the preeminent events for NCLR and for Latinos across the nation. Returning to Los Angeles for the fourth time, the NCLR Annual Conference and National Latino Family Expo will run from Saturday, July 19 through Tuesday, July 22 at the JW Marriott Los Angeles and L.A. LIVE entertainment complex.

NCLR’s Annual Conference and National Latino Family Expo have consistently convened the most powerful, prominent and influential voices in and working with the Latino community, including community leaders, activists and volunteers; elected and appointed officials; and members of the corporate, philanthropic and academic communities. Attendees will have the ultimate opportunity to learn about current issues impacting Latinos and to hear from prominent leaders in the arenas of immigration, education, civil rights, health, workforce development and youth leadership, among other topics.

“We are so excited to have our conference once again here in Los Angeles. California has always been the bellwether for the Latino community, the first to experience the phenomenal demographic growth, and face the challenges and opportunities that are the outcome of that growth. It’s fair to say, California today is emblematic of what America will look like in the near future. When it comes to success for the Latino community, across every sector, California is poised to lead the way,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR.

Title-sponsored by Toyota and JPMorgan Chase & Co., the 2014 NCLR Annual Conference—themed “Think. Create. Aspire.”—will feature more than 60 workshops, four town halls, five key meal events (including the Latinas Brunch and the NCLR Awards Gala) and multiple networking opportunities.

This year’s Conference features a list of impressive speakers, including Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti; Senator Elizabeth Warren (D–MA); Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co. Jamie Dimon; Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg; California Attorney General Kamala Harris; actress and philanthropist Eva Longoria; and many more to come. Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez is confirmed to give the invocation on Saturday, July 19 at the NCLR Conference luncheon.

Additionally, the 2014 NCLR Annual Conference brings some of the best entertainment in the Latino community to Los Angeles, including John Leguizamo and Anjelah Johnson, who will perform at the NuvoTV comedy night at the Conference.

“As a proud partner of NCLR since 2002, Toyota is glad to be once again a title sponsor of this year’s NCLR Annual Conference,” said Patricia Salas Pineda, Vice President of Toyota’s Hispanic Business Strategy and member of the NCLR Corporate Board of Advisors. “We have tremendous respect for the important work that NCLR does nationwide and look forward to participating in this important gathering of Hispanic leaders.”

“JPMorgan Chase is delighted to be a co-title sponsor of the NCLR Annual Conference and National Latino Family Expo,” said Alice Rodriguez, Executive Vice President and California Region Manager for Chase Business Banking. “We have a long-standing relationship with NCLR and cherish our working partnership. Together, we share an unwavering commitment to the Latino community and the city of Los Angeles. We look forward to an uplifting and enlightening Conference experience.”

All attendees and the Los Angeles community are invited to visit the National Latino Family Expo, title-sponsored by UPS. This free family experience is open to the public, featuring various themed pavilions that offer exciting and cutting-edge games, prizes, live entertainment, product samples and more. The National Latino Family Expo, taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center, will be open to the public from Saturday, July 19 through Monday, July 21.

“UPS has been a committed partner to NCLR for more than 30 years, and is proud to be the presenting sponsor of its National Latino Family Expo,” said Eduardo Martinez, President of the UPS Foundation. “Our diverse workforce has nearly 400,000 employees globally and we consider it our greatest company strength. UPS promotes diversity and inclusion for all, striving to create opportunities for underserved and under-represented segments of society around the world.”

The NCLR National Latino Family Expo is one of the largest events in the country focused on resources and activities for the Latino family, with more than 100 exhibitors showcasing their products and services. From live entertainment and giveaways to free health screenings and informative demonstrations, everyone will discover something new in a fun and exciting environment that the entire family will enjoy. The Expo is open to all, and attendance is free of charge!

This year, characters from Nickelodeon’s brand-new animated preschool series Dora and Friends: Into the City! will serve as the official ambassadors to the Expo. Premiering in August, the series features beloved Latina heroine Dora in all-new adventures, with new friends and a new interactive curriculum. Additionally, Fátima Ptacek, who voices Dora in the show, will be making an appearance at the Expo on Sunday, July 20.

Visitors can also attend autograph signings with celebrities in sports and entertainment, participate in product demonstrations and compete in Copa NCLR, NCLR’s annual soccer tournament. A highlight of the National Latino Family Expo is the Health/Tu Salud Pavilion, where participants can receive a variety of free health screenings, including kidney, dental, cholesterol and vision, just to name a few. The Science and Technology/El Futuro Pavilion will highlight opportunities and advances in science, technology, engineering and mathematics that make our everyday lives easier. In addition to a wide array of career and educational resources, the Career and Education/Tus Oportunidades Pavilion will feature Nickelodeon’s kindergarten readiness initiative, Beyond the Backpack, with games for kids and tools for parents and caregivers to help prepare their little ones for school. The Expo is a fun, interactive and informative experience in a safe and inviting family setting.

Click here to learn more about or to register for the 2014 NCLR Annual Conference in Los Angeles.

To obtain media credentials for the 2014 NCLR Annual Conference, press may register at http://nclr.emsreg.com/nclr14/public/mediaregistration.aspx.

NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Latinos. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
(202) 776-1566
jrendeiro@nclr.org

Latinos are the youngest and fastest-growing segment of the American labor force, but the beginnings of their careers are often plagued with unique challenges. Today, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) released a report titled “Giving Them an Edge? The Effects of Work Experience on the Employment Prospects of Latino Young Men.” The report covers Latino men between the ages of 16 and 30, popularly referred to as the millennial generation.

NCLR’s analysis found that prior work experience makes a difference in whether young Latino men are employed or unemployed. Despite the fact that young Latino men have more work experience than their peers, that work experience made no measurable difference in the likelihood that Latino men in their late 20s will have a full-time job. Underemployment, a broader measure than unemployment that includes part-time workers who would prefer full-time work, is at a staggering 41.9 percent for Latino millennials who lack a college degree and at 16.2 percent for all Latinos.

A number of factors play a role in why these disparities exist for young Latino men, including the concentration of Latino workers in low-wage sectors of the economy and the limited job opportunities available through networks of friends and family. Undocumented immigration status also prevents many millennials from finding full-time work, as does implicit bias in hiring practices.

“For young Latino men, job experience alone isn’t sufficient for breaking into full-time employment,” said Catherine Singley Harvey, Manager of the Economic Policy Project at NCLR and author of the report. “Young men can’t solve these challenges on their own. We need to address the structural barriers that inhibit male Latino millennials from reaching their potential in the workforce.”

At a panel discussion co-hosted earlier today by NCLR, the Center for Law and Social Policy, and PolicyLink, and moderated by the National Journal, Singley Harvey outlined a number of recommendations for policymakers and businesses to expand employment opportunities for young Latino men. NCLR called on federal policymakers to pursue aggressive job creation strategies targeted to youth, prioritizing placement in full-time jobs, while also providing training that enables young men to build the skills needed for full-time careers. The report also proposes that businesses should reexamine how work experience is valued in recruitment and hiring and to take steps to address unintentional bias in hiring.

“Latino millennials bring a wealth of talent to American businesses,” added Singley Harvey. “Their success and the strength of the U.S. economy depend on effective strategies to ensure that more young Latino men are able to acquire and leverage early work experience.”

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
(202) 776-1566
jrendeiro@nclr.org

Latinos are the youngest and fastest-growing segment of the American labor force, but the beginnings of their careers are often plagued with unique challenges. Today, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) released a report titled “Giving Them an Edge? The Effects of Work Experience on the Employment Prospects of Latino Young Men.” The report covers Latino men between the ages of 16 and 30, popularly referred to as the millennial generation.

NCLR’s analysis found that prior work experience makes a difference in whether young Latino men are employed or unemployed. Despite the fact that young Latino men have more work experience than their peers, that work experience made no measurable difference in the likelihood that Latino men in their late 20s will have a full-time job. Underemployment, a broader measure than unemployment that includes part-time workers who would prefer full-time work, is at a staggering 41.9 percent for Latino millennials who lack a college degree and at 16.2 percent for all Latinos.

A number of factors play a role in why these disparities exist for young Latino men, including the concentration of Latino workers in low-wage sectors of the economy and the limited job opportunities available through networks of friends and family. Undocumented immigration status also prevents many millennials from finding full-time work, as does implicit bias in hiring practices.

“For young Latino men, job experience alone isn’t sufficient for breaking into full-time employment,” said Catherine Singley Harvey, Manager of the Economic Policy Project at NCLR and author of the report. “Young men can’t solve these challenges on their own. We need to address the structural barriers that inhibit male Latino millennials from reaching their potential in the workforce.”

At a panel discussion co-hosted earlier today by NCLR, the Center for Law and Social Policy, and PolicyLink, and moderated by the National Journal, Singley Harvey outlined a number of recommendations for policymakers and businesses to expand employment opportunities for young Latino men. NCLR called on federal policymakers to pursue aggressive job creation strategies targeted to youth, prioritizing placement in full-time jobs, while also providing training that enables young men to build the skills needed for full-time careers. The report also proposes that businesses should reexamine how work experience is valued in recruitment and hiring and to take steps to address unintentional bias in hiring.

“Latino millennials bring a wealth of talent to American businesses,” added Singley Harvey. “Their success and the strength of the U.S. economy depend on effective strategies to ensure that more young Latino men are able to acquire and leverage early work experience.”

###

For Immediate Release
June 19, 2014
Contact: See below

WASHINGTON, DC – National Latino and AAPI leaders released the following statement today after House Republicans elected Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California as Majority Leader. McCarthy represents a largely farmworker district that is 35% Latino and 5% Asian American and Pacific Islander. The election comes on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the Senate passage of S.744, a comprehensive immigration reform bill that passed with a vote of 68 to 32. The following is a statement by national Latino and AAPI organizations:

“With his ascension up the House GOP leadership ladder, McCarthy now has an opportunity to lead his party’s conference toward a broad, pragmatic solution favored by a majority of voters across the U.S. and in his district. As McCarthy once said, ‘We’re all up for office every two years; we should be very reflective of what America thinks.’ "

“The new Majority Leader can either schedule a House floor vote on workable immigration reform or he can kill the best chance in decades to fix the immigration system and miss a big opportunity to work with Latino, AAPI, and immigrant communities. Our communities and our country need a response now.”

Recently, the leaders of six national Latino and four Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) groups issued preliminary congressional scorecards that showed the GOP leadership -- including McCarthy -- failing Latino and AAPI communities on the critical issue of immigration reform. Final scores will be released in July, with a renewed commitment to educate Latino, AAPI and all interested communities on who has led on immigration reform and who has obstructed progress on this critical issue.

The organizations issuing the scorecards include: Hispanic Federation, Labor Council of Latin American Citizens, National Council of La Raza, Mi Familia Vota Education Fund, Voto Latino, National Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Japanese American Citizens League, National Korean American Service and Education Consortium, and OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates.

Contacts:
NAKASEC: Diana Bui dbui@nakasec.org 202-670-1622
Hispanic Federation: Joshua Silvia, jsilvia@hispanicfederation.org, 202-641-7186
LCLAA: Victor Baten, Vbaten@lclaa.org, 202-508-6989
LULAC: Jossie Sapunar, jsapunar@lulac.org, 202-833-6130
Mi Familia Vota: Lizette Escobedo lizettee@mifamiliavota.org, 858- 583-5014
NCLR: Joseph Rendeiro, jrendeiro@nclr.org, 202-776-1566